Switch emulation has grown to the point where your entire setup can now be used on your Android phone (if it is powerful enough). The Citron Emulator on Android is fully compatible with the PC version, which means you can easily migrate everything from PC to Android, including your game library, updates, saves, etc. So follow along as we show you how to transfer everything from your Citron PC installation to your Citron Android Installation.
Takeaways:
- Complete Guide for Moving Games, Save Files, DLC, and Settings from Citron PC to Citron Android.
- How do you move Citron Emulator files and data from PC to Android?
Table of Contents
Moving Stuff Between Citron Emulator on PC and Citron Emulator on Android
Both versions of Citron share the same structure and file compatibility. This means any file that works on the PC version, from .NSP or .XCI game files to DLC packs and firmware will work identically on the Android version. The emulator reads the same keys, interprets the same firmware, and loads save data in the same way.
The main difference lies in the file directory structure. On PC, Citron stores configuration and save files within system folders on your hard drive. On Android, those directories are nested within the app’s data storage or a dedicated “Citron” folder you create on your device’s internal storage or SD card. To ensure a clean and organised migration, the goal is to replicate your PC’s setup in a simple folder hierarchy on Android.
How to Transfer Everything From Citron PC to Citron Emulator on Android | Save Files, DLC, Games, etc
Before moving anything, it is important to prepare your folders on both devices. This will make your transfer smooth and help avoid any missing file issues later.
Organise Your Citron PC Folders Like this
On your PC set up your folder system like this.
- Citron - Where you keep the emulator
- Games – containing your .NSP, .XCI, or .NCA files
- Firmware – containing your system firmware files
- Keys – usually prod.keys and title.keys
- DLC – additional downloadable content for your games
- Updates – game update files
- Saves – your game save data (automatically managed by Citron)
Save location: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Citron
Transferring Citron Emulator Files from PC to Android
Once you have organised your folders and files like this, copy and paste the core folder over to your Android device, and everything will be in perfect order.
- Citron
- Games
- Firmware
- Keys
- DLC
- Updates
- Saves
This will help you quickly locate and manage files once you open the emulator. You'll need to access some of these locations semi-regularly for updates, so being organised makes a huge difference.
What About Citron Save Files?
Save data is handled slightly differently between PC and Android. On PC, Citron stores saves in its internal configuration folder. You cannot change this location. So just copy your save data to your Android device. Any location. Then use the process shown below to import it into Citron.
Restoring Saves in Citron Emulator on Android
Even though you cannot change the location of saves, you can back them up and restore them manually. Since you have already moved all of your save data to your Android device, do the following.
- Go to manage Citron Data > Manage Save Data and click the down arrow.
- Then accept the prompt that all the current data will be lost.
- Now, simply find the location where you put all your save data.
When you next launch your games on Android, your previous progress should appear automatically. If you want to back up your saves, go back to the same location and tap the up arrow to export the data.
Installing and Configuring Firmware and Keys
For Citron to work properly, you need up-to-date firmware and keys. Without these, nothing will work. Again! They need to be up to date! Old keys and firmware will cause issues. Just got to Settings > Manage Citron Data, and choose what you want to add. You can find a full setup guide here.
Adding Games, DLC, and Updates
To add your games, open the Citron emulator on Android and select Add Game Directory. Choose your Citron/Games folder. Your game library should populate automatically. Repeat the same process for DLC and Game Updates. if you organised everything as we told you to at the very start, this will all be very easy!
